Unfortunately, we do not have to wait to see this agenda in action. For, thanks to a further blog visit with Uncommon Descent, we can see a current, and deeply disturbing, case in point.
The article Dr William Dembski of the Discovery Institute is responding to is sadly revealing:
The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or 'intelligent design' alongside evolution.In a comment to the blog thread [currently pending approval by the Blog's Moderators], I made some observations on this policy announcement, which follow [with minor cleanup and some extra links]:
"Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism," said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter .
Some Christian schools teach biology students that the world and the organisms on it were created by a supreme being. This is often presented as another valid scientific theory alongside evolution - something most scientists reject.
Religious Education will remain on the curriculum and it will still be allowed to start the school day with prayers. But in classes teachers will be expected to stick to the curriculum . . .
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Over the past few days, we have looked in this Blog at the proposals, claims and behaviour of Dawkins et al, as they hope to monopolise the public square.
Lo and behold, it is already happening in Sweden!
As I looked at the Swedish Government's repressive action, I felt a familiar sour taste in my mouth, for, it seems that the secularists who vaunt themselves on their skeptical, inquiring spirit, are forgetting to be self-critical and self aware -- and are verging into becoming tyrannical and oppressive abusers of the vast state power of big-government Welfare states.
Let us take a look at what is already going on in Europe, friends:
1] “Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter.
Here, we can easily see how a handy contentless, propagandistic smear-word often used to improperly equate Bible-believing Christians and Islamist suicide bombers, serves as a thought- and fairness- stopper. This is classic, bigoted atmosphere -poisoning through slander.
And, it is coming out of the mouth of the Minister of "Education" -- shades of Orwell's 1984 and double-speak!
Even Sam Harris knows better, e.g. when he spoke out [and, sadly, was not properly listened to] at the recent Crystal-Clear Atheism conference:
He . . . cautioned the audience against lumping all religions together . . . . Specifically, he [Harris] noted that radical Islam was far more threatening than any radical Christian sect, adding that Christians had a right to be outraged when the media treated the two religions similarly . . . .Telling isn't it, that While the audience gave Dawkins a standing ovation [for a speech that passes all bounds of civility and derides moderate Christians thusly: If you've been taught to believe [Christianity] by moderates, what's to stop you from taking the next step and blowing yourself up?] , Harris received only polite applause.
Now, too, we see where the ideas and agendas being championed by Mr Dawkins et al lead:
2] The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution . . . . Some Christian schools teach biology students that the world and the organisms on it were created by a supreme being. This is often presented as another valid scientific theory alongside evolution - something most scientists reject.
Notice how the "consensus" of atheist-dominated Scientific institutions is presented as if it is unquestionable, authoritative --dare I say, even "gospel" -- truth?
Have these Educators never heard of the Parable of Plato's Cave, on the dangers of social consensuses enforced by power games, and of suppression of principled dissent? [Surely, the ghost of Socrates can tell us better than this!]
Or, that Science is supposedly an empirically controlled, open-ended, fallible and hopefully progressive investigation of the truth about the world through inference to best current explanation, not an atheistical dogma to be imposed by state power?
Or, that Science is in no position to pronounce that by force of the current "consensus" of finite, fallible and possibly even ill-willed "Scientists" atheism or whatever doctrine is fashionable at any given time must monopolise education, science or otherwise?
Worse in some ways [as both Science and Education should hold values such as truth and fairness dear], they have utterly, and by either criminal negligence or willful slander, missed the mark on ID.
For, they have imposed a ban on a serious side of major debates in current and emerging science, while they haven't even bothered to check whether they have been fed a false and loaded "definition" of ID by those with an axe to grind. To see that, simply contrast Dembski's classic summary to their distorted presentation as just excerpted:
intelligent design begins with a seemingly innocuous question: Can objects, even if nothing is known about how they arose, exhibit features that reliably signal the action of an intelligent cause? . . . Proponents of intelligent design, known as design theorists, purport to study such signs formally, rigorously, and scientifically. Intelligent design may therefore be defined as the science that studies signs of intelligence.3] Religious Education will remain on the curriculum and it will still be allowed to start the school day with prayers. But in classes teachers will be expected to stick to the curriculum . . . . all elements of religious worship would have to be completely separate from class teaching. Most independent schools in Sweden are privately owned but funded by government grants.
Let us note that there is no exception for schools that are both privately owned and independent of Government funds.
In short, the Atheists are taking over the schools, by Government fiat.
Worse, let us remember that there is really no such thing as "Government Grants," for the excellent reason that there really is no such thing as "Government Money." THERE IS ONLY TAX-PAYERS' MONEY. (And the targetting of anonymous donations is obviously intended to further the degree of control over schools in the hands of these usurpers. Let us never forget that the power to tax is the power to control and if there are no proper restraints, to destroy.)
That is, the stewards of the funds of the people of Sweden are here usurping their power and in effect are declaring that the Children of the nation are their wards -- whatever their parents may wish to think about it.
This is tyranny, and the people of Sweden would be well-advised to act in defence of their liberties now, before it is too late.
The second paragraph of the US Declaration of Independence would be a great place to begin, not least because it underscores the roots of modern liberty in the Judaeo-Christian tradition:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, [cf Rom 1:18 - 21, 2:14 - 15 -- i.e. one denies these on pain of reduction to absurdity through self contradictions and self-serving hypocrisies], that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security . . . .For shame, Sweden!
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For us, what more can be said than that to be forewarned should be to be forearmed? END
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